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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 31, 1914)
THE "fjORTH PLATTE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. M ?! i I! 1 " n hot T J1ARY IfflOND cSTPiAN ANDREWS AUTHOR o THCPIRJTCT TRJOUrC, THC DETTEI? fRFAdURr, ETC 'RlU5tRATI0fi$ y ILLSVORTn DVNG COPTWr 193 BY OOOOS Aff??M COYPAfy V T5 3 SYNOPSIS. Francois Uoaupre. a peasant bab of IIupk yems, utter an amusing Incident In which MuMluil Ney Ilgures, Is inndo a 'lnviiller of. Franco by the Emperor Na poleon, who prophesied that the boy might ono day be a marshal of Franca under another Uonaparte. At the ui of t'n Friuirol visits (Jeneral Uaron Uas I iril OourgHUd, who wltb AlUn, bis m vu yeai-old daughter, lives at the t bureau A soldier of the Empire under Nupohon ho fires tho hoy's linnglnallon with stories of Mi campaigns. Tim boy Ik- unies . ooovUl tor the rtefieral and l"fni. ot bt friendship between the gen "nil Hfid Marquis Zuppl, who campaigned with the general under Napoleon Mar quis Zuppl uud his son. I'letro. Hrrlvc at thn hiitcati The general agrees to caro for tho Marquis' noil while the former Kocs to America. Tho Marquis asks Fran cols o be a friend of his son Tho boy tiolrmnly promises lrancols goes to the ( luteaii to live. Marquis Zappi dies leav In I'letro ug a ward of the general. Allxo. I'letro and Francois meet a strange boy who proves to bo I'rlnco Louis Na poleon. Francois saves his life. Tho gen eral (Uncovers Francois loves Allx'V ana exttdcts a promise, from I1I111 that he will not Inlerfero between tho Blrl and Pletro, IVaiKoU goes to Italy as secretary to I'lutro Queen Hortonse plans tho escape of bpr son Louis Napoleon by disguising lilm und Marquis Zappl as her lackeys. 1 mucoid takes Marquis Zappl's pinto, who Is 111. In the escape of Hortonso nnd louls Dressed ns Louis' brother Fran rots lureH the Austrian from tho hotel al lowing thi prince and his mother to es- ipe rtnncols Is a prisoner dt tho Aus trluns fur nvo vears. In the castle owned by I'letro In Italy. He discovers In his Kun.nl ono of IMetro's old family sorvants. nnd through lilm sends "word to Ills frlondH of his plight. The general, Allxe nnd Plotro plans Francois' escape. Fran cols receives a noto from I'lotro explain ing" In dwtrtll how to escape from his prison Allxo awaits lilm on horseback nnd lead him to his friends on board ih Anlorlcnu sailing vessel, tho "lively Lrt'-y." Frnncols. as a guest of Harry Hampton, on tho "Lovely Lucy," goes to Atn-rlcu to ninuagu IMetro's estate In Virginia Lucy Hampton falls In love with Francois. CHAPTER XXIII. Continued. Tho femalo mind paid no attention to tho degression. Lucy had long n'go, finally If unconsciously, put her falhor'8 personality Into Its right jflaco, ' Father, la tho prlnco roally poor and ulotio In this country?" "I'oor yc8, I fancy I am quite cer tain, In fact. Alone that doponds. Tho authorities of Norfolk recolvod him with soma distinction, the Herald 6tatos, but ho Is putting up at tho inn ono would concludo that ho was an invited guest at many ot our groat houses." Lucy tlew like a bird across to tho fireplace. Her hands went up to olth or sldo ot tho colonel's faco. "Fathor, quick! Have Thunder saddled, and rldo in qulcU, father and bring tho prlnco out hero to stay with us. Qlvo tho ordor to Sambo, or I Bhall." Colonel Hampton's oyos widened with surprise. "Why, but Lucy," ho Htumtnorod. "Why but why should I What claim havo wo " "Oh, nonsonso," and Lucy shook hor head Impatlontly.' "Who has more claim? Aron't wo Virginians of tho James river princes in our own coun try, too? Hasn't our family reigned In Itoangko longer than over his cotgnod In Europo? Haven't wo enough houso room and serynnts to tnako him as comfortablo as in a pal ace? But that Isn't tho most impor tant. It Is a flhainu to us all, father, that no ono Imb Invited him before, that a strango gcutlomun of high sta tion should havo to lodgo at an inn. Why hasn't Cousin. Georgo Ilurrlqpn naked hlai to Brandon? And tho Car ters at Shlrloy, and tho people at Bnrkeloy what do they moan by not unking him? Hut wo won't lot Vir ginian houpltallty bo stained. Wo will ask him. You will rldo to Norfolk at .suco, will you not, fathor dear?" Tho touch on- his cheek was pleas ftnt to tho vain and affoctlonato man, 'but tho spirit of tho girl's speech, tho , Buggcstlon 01! Iho fmrtoBy duo from 'him an n reigning prince, to this other prlnco forlorn nnd oxllod, this was lplcaaantor. Ho pursued his lips and amllod down. j "Out ot tho mouth of babes," ho re marked, and drow his brows together n It uudor stress of largo machinery bohlnd thorn. "My little girl, you 'havo rathor a sensible Idea. I bad 'overlooked boforo, that" ho cJoarod iilH throat and black Aaron standing tray in baud across tho room, jumped ih1 rollod his eyes "that," ho contln tted, "a man of my Importance has du ties of hospitality, oven to u forolgnor Tvho comes without introduction Into U10 country " "Aaron, toll Sambo to eaddlo Thuu flor," ho ordered. Prlnco Louis, hi his dingy parlor at. tilts Inn, looked at his vlsltdr from bo tavooii half-Bhut oyelids, aud measured' 5ilm, soul and body. Ho considered the hivitutlon for a silent moment, "this was ono of tho great men of tho isoulitry. Tho prince had already lioard his name and tho name of his historic homo. It was well to havo Intluontlnl friends, more particularly us no letter awaited him as ho hud hoped from his uncle, Joseph Honu parte, with tho American Introduc tions for which he had askod. A visit of u few days at this pluce of Hoati ke could do no harm and might lead ito good "I thank you very much, Monslour 1o Colonel," ho said gravely, yet gra ciously. "You nro most good to de ulro that I visit yfju. I will do so with plousuro." Out they rodo through tho buii- lighted, wind-whipped country, dozing roatf'iilly through Us last winter's uap, V stirring already at tho stop of lively April on tho threshold. Tho air wbb sharp, nnd nipped at tho prince's lin gers and toes, but It wns exhilaration to bo across a horse again, and tho exile's spirit tho case-hardened heart of eteel whlqh failure and mtsfortuno never brofto till It broke forever at Sodu. grow buoyant. That "some thing about the outside of a horse which Is good for the Inside ot a man" worked Its subtlo charm on this fin ished horseman and horse lover, and ho was gontly responsive as tho col ouol talked fluently on. "Docs It so happen, Monsieur lo Colonel, that there Is In these parts a Frenchman of ot Instruction a man whom 1 might use ob a secretary? I shall havo need tomorrow to write letters. Would you know of such a man, MonBleur lc Colonel?" Nothing pleased Monsieur lo Col onel more than to bo master of the sit uation. "Most certainly,' ho an swered blandly and felt that tho prlnco must notice how no demand could find Colonel Hampton at a loss. "Most certainly. My daughter's French master would bo the very fel low. Ho is intelligent and well edu cated, and what Is more, he Is a most nrdont ndhcront ot your family, prlnco. Ho has talked to Miss Hampton with such a vehement enthusiasm that, by tho Lord Harry, I believe sho expects to sco you fly in with wings, slrI be llovo sho does," nnd tho colonel laugh ed loudly and heartily. It was as good a Joko as ho had over made. And boforo them, at that mo ment, roBo a . Btatoly picture largo old houso, 'built of dark red brick brought from England, towered sud denly from out ot tho bare trees of Its park llko a monument of calm hos pitality. Its Bteop roof was set with dormer windows; Its copings nnd Its casements were white stone; a white stono tcrraco stretched before It. At ono front, as thoy came, was tho car riage entrance, and tho squares of a formal English garden, walled with box hedges, lay sleeping boforo tho sprlngtimo; nt tho opposlto side a wldosIawn fell to a massive brick wall, spaced with Btono plllnrs, guarding the grounds from tho flowing of tho James rlvor. Colonel Hampton gazed at tho homo of his people and then nt his guoBt, nnd ho cast tho harness of his smallnessos nnd stood out In tho simple and lnrgo cordiality which 1b tho horltago abovo othors of southern people. "Your aro welcome to Iloanoke, prlnco," ho said. CHAPTER XXIV. Brothers. Colonel Hampton's study was dark from floor to celling with brown oak wainscoting and was lightened by a dull brightness of portraits. An an cestor In a scarlet coat, tho red turn ed yollow and brown with tlmo; an ancestress In dimmed glory of bluo satin nnd laco and pearls; a Judgo In his wig nnd gown, gave tho small room Importance. A broad window looked through baro branches, lacy black agahiBt sky, ncross a rolling country and groups of woodland. On the morning of tho llrst day of April, 1837, Prlnco Louis Nnpoleon Bonaparte Btood at this window, star- IMIEMI He Considered the Invitation for a Si lent Moment. lng nt brown fields nnd trying to trnco n llkonoBs botwoon this now world and tho ancient country which ho call ed his; France, where, slnco ho was soven years old, ho hud been allowed to spend but a few weeks; Franco, which had freshly oxlled lilm; France, tho thought ot which ruled him, 11a ho meant ono day to rulo her; Franco, for whom ho was eating his heart out to day, as always, thousands of miles from her shores. Ho recalled tho happy llfo nt Aren onborg, In Switzerland, and tho work and play and soldierly trnlnjng which all pointed, hi tho boy's mtud, to ono end to servo Franco n service which did not nt that tlmo mean sovereign ty, for tho Duke of Holchstndt, Na poleon's son, was allvo and tho head ot tho house of Honnparto. Ho thought ot IiIb short career, his and lllB woll-bolovcd bi other's togethor, with tho Italian Insurgents against tho Auutriaus, and tho lonely man's heart W mmm longed for his own pcoplo as ho went ovor again that tlmo at excitement and Borrow, ending with tho older boy's dfath nt Forll and his own Ill ness aud narrow escape from capture. "What a mother I" ho cried nloud, tossing up his hands with French dem-l onstratlvcnosB, as tho memory camo to him of tho days in Ancona when ho lny at death's door, hidden In tho very room next that of the Austrian gen oral, saved only at last by tho mar velous motl.or's wit and courage Tho Journey through Italy to Franco, that wna drama enough for one llfo. Rec ognized at every turn, betrayed never, and ending with Prlnco Louis smiled his slow dim smile a fitting ending indeed to days whoso every mlnuto was .ndventuro. He thought of tho landlord of the Inn, tho old cavalry man; tho young Frenchman Beaupro that was the namn; It was sot In his memory; had been In that tenacious momory slnco an afternoon of 1824, whon a runaway schoolboy prlnco had slipped over tho Jura, nnd played with threo other children, about a ruined castlo; ho saw Francrls Beaupro tako roverontly lu his hand the sword which Napoleon had held and thon the alarm! That was a fine sight the dash of the youugster through tho startled mob of Austrlans; the flying leap to tho horso; the skirmish to get frco, and, at last, tho rush of tho chaso. Ho had seen it all, watching quietly while his mother and the land lord Implored him to hide himself. That young Frenchman If ho should bo alive If over ho should meet him again Prlnco Louis would not forget. It was psychological that he should have been thinking this when a knock sounded deferentially on tho door of tho room. But picturesque coinci dences happen In llveB as well as on tho stago; In Louis Napoleon's there wns more thnn ono. "Entrez!" ho called sharply, nnd then, "Come In!" Tho door swung slowly and Aaron, white-aproned aud whlto-eyeballed, stood in it. "Marse Prince," ho stated with a dig nity of service which crowned heads could not daunt, "ole Marso sen mo bring you dls hyer Marse Bopray." A light figure stepped boforo tho black and white of Aaron, and halted, and bowed profoundly. The light from tho window shone on IiIb face und the dark Immenso eyes that lifted toward Prince Louis, and for a moment ho stared, puzzled. Was ho In tho pres ent? Surely this man was part of the past which ho had been reviewing. Surely ho hnd played a, role in tho prince's hlBtory whero? With a Hashing thought into tho years ho knew. "Mon nni!" cried Louis Bonaparte, nnd sprang forward and stretched out botli hnnJs, his royalty forgotten in tho delight of seeing a faco which re called his youth and his mother. FrnncolB, two minutes lator, found himself standing, bursting with loyal ty and 'prldo, with tho prlnco's hands clasping his, nnd the prince's trans formed faco beaming on lilm. "You rodo like tho devil," said the prlnco. "But tho Austrlans had the horses., That poor Bleu-bleu! How did you got awny? Whero havo you been? Mon DIou, but we looked for you, Zappl nnd I!" "But no, your highness, I did not get away," smiled Francois Beaupre as If Imparting a joyful bit of. news. "They caught me." And ho told briefly his story ot the llvo years in prison, of tho desperate escape, of tho roscuo and voyngo to America, of his wrecked health, not yet rc-CBtaDiisiied. Through tho ac count shono tho unconquornblo French gaiety. Another thing there was which a Frenchman and a Bonaparto could not fall to seo that the thought of his service to tho houso of Bona parto had been a sustaining pride, and tho liopo of future service nn in spiring hope Superstition nnd gratttudo laid hold togethor on the prlnco's troubled mind. Ho throw hlmsolf back Into Colonel Hampton's loather arm-chair, throne-liko In Imprcsslveness and slzo; tho mask of Impassivity closed on his colorless featuos. "Sit there, Monsieur," he ordered, "nnd toll 1110 your llfo." Simply, yot dramatically as was his gift, the young man went over tho talo which ho had told to Lucy Hamp ton, that and more. And tho prlnco listened to overy word. He, too, had tho French senBltlvenesB to theatrical offect, and his over-wrought Imagina tion seemod to seo tho hand of destiny visibly joining this story to IiIb. Hero was a legacy from Napoleon; an In strument created by his uncle, which he, tho heir, should ubo. There was a long silence when FrnncolB had fin ished, nnd Louis' deop-pltchod voice broko It. '"One day perhaps a marshal of Franco under another Bonaparte,' " ho repeated thoughtfully. "it was tho accolade, the old right of rovaltty," and gazed, if reflecting, at the other man's face. Holghtoned color told how much it meant to Francois Beaupro to hoar those words spoken by tho pilnce. "My prlnco, I will tell yon though It may be of little momont to know that It Is not for my own advance ment that I caro. It Is the truth that 1 would throw away a hundred Uvcb If 1 had them, to seo tho houso ot Bon uparto rulo Franco It Is only so, I bollovo, that Franco cun bocome groat onco more. Wo need horoos to lad us, wo Fronchmon, not shopkeeper kings such as Louis Phllllppo; If It has not a hero tho nation loaus courage, and Its Intorost In national llfo. But tho very nnmo of Napoleon Is Insplra tlon It pricks the blood; a monarch or uuu nnmo on I'Tanoo's throno, and our country will wako, will live You, my prlnco, aro Ui hope of tho house of Nupoleou.'' With a quick step forward ho throw himself on his knees before tho qulot figure in tho throno-Uke chair; ho seiz ed tho prlnco's hand and, head bent, kissed it with paBslon. Thero was a lino of color in each cheek as his face lifted, and his brilliant look was shot with a tear. "If I may die believing that I havo helped to win your throno, I shall dlo In happiness." Prlnco Louis hnd his mother's warm heart, and this wont to It. He put his hand on tho other's shou4der, famil iarly as if tho two wore equals, kins men. The brotherly touch on Francois' shoulder was withdrawn, and with gen tlo dignity, with a glance, the prlnco lifted lilm to his feet, and Francois stood happy, dazed, beforo him. Ho found himself telling his plans, hlB methods, hla efforts to fit hlmBolf for the usefulness thnt might bo on tho way "I havo studied enormously, my prlnco. All known books on warlike subjects, all 1 could borrow or Bteal I havo Btudled. Ah, yesl I know much of these things." Louis Bonaparto, with an exhaustive military education, a powor of appll- uriFiui "Mon Ami,", Cried Loulo Bonaparte. cation and nbsorptlon beyond moat men In Europe, let the gleam of a smllo escapo. Ho listened with close attention while Francois toldot his organization of the youth ot tho neigh borhood Into a cavalry company, and of their drill twice a week. "And you are tho captain, Mon sieur?" Francois Bmlled a crafty, worldly wise smile or perhapB It was as if a child would seem crafty and worldly wise. "No, my prlnco," ho answered, shaking his head sagely. "That would not bo beBt. I am little known, a for eigner. They think much of their old families, tho people of these parts. So that It Is better 'for tho success of tho company that tho captain should bo of the nobility of tho country. Ono sees that. So tho captain of tho com pany Is Monsieur Honry Hampton, tho younger, tho kinsman of Monsieur lo Colonel, and a young man of great goodness, and tho best of friends to me. Everything that I can do for his pleasure 1b my own pleasure." Tho prince turned his expression loss gaze on tho animated face. "Mad omolsello Lucy likes the young mon sieur?" "But yes, my prince she 'likes ev ery one, Mademoiselle Lucy. It Is sun shine, her kindness; It falls every where and blesses where It falls. She loves Honry as a brother." "Aa a brother!" the prince repeated consideringly. "Yes, a brother. You find Mademoiselle Lucy of of a kind disposition." "Beyond words, and most charm ing," Frnncols answerod steadily, and flushed a little. Ho felt himself being probed. With that tho facile, myste rious, keen mind of tho prlnco leaped, It seemed, a world-wldo chasm. "That most winning llttlo girl of tho ruined chateau of Vieques our playmate AUxe you remember how sho stated, 'I am Allxe,' and was at once ship wrecked with embarrassment?" "I remember," Francois said shortly, and wns conscious that ho breathed quickly and that his throat was dry, and that tho prince know of both trou bles. "Is sho still 'Allxe' the same Allxo?" Inquired tho prince, turning os tentatiously to the window. "Has she grown up as sweet and fresh and bril liant a flowor as tho rosobud prom ised?" Francois, hearing IiIb own heart beat, attempted to answer in a par ticularly casual manner, which is a dif ficult and sophisticated trick. Ho fail ed at It. "Thoy say 1 think sho has oh, but yes, and I think" he stammered nntl tho prlnco cut short his sufferings. "Ah, yes! I soo that It is with you, as with Monsieur Hen ry, a cbbo ot devoted brotheihood. You lovo hor as n brother you will not boast of her "You havo dono well, Chevalier Beaupre. You have dono so well that whon tho time Is ripe again It will not bo long for Strasburg must b'o wiped out In success that I shall send for you to help me, and I shall know that you will bo rendy. I seo that tho star which lends ub both Is tho only light which shines for you. It holds our undivided soul, ChovnIIor I am right?" Francds turned his swiftly chang ing face toward tho speaker, drawn with a fooling which swopt ovor hlni; for 11 moment ho did not nuBwor. Thon ho spoke in n low tone "Whon a knight of tho old time wont to battlo," ho said, "ho woro on his helmet tho badgo of his lady and carried tho thought of her In hla heart. A man lights better so." I &2U 1110 Biioiii punco unuerstood. CHAPTER XXV. How Lucy Told. , Tho prince was gone Thrj hid been festivities nnd formalities, &reat dinners, gatherings ot the Virginia no blllty to do honor to his highness nt Roanoko houso nnd elsewhere; every where tho Chevalier Beaupre had been distinguished by his highness' most inarked favor. And Lucy Hampton's eyeB had shone with quiet delight to seo it and to seo tho effect on her fa ther. For tho colonel, confused In his mind as to how It might bo true, re luctantly acknowledged that thore must bo something of lmportanco about this Chevallor Beaupre, that a prjnco should trcnt him as a brother. Ho believed that it would be best to treat him ho also at least as a gen tleman1. So tho French lessons wero continued and the Jefferson troop was encouraged, and Francois was asked often to Iloanoke house. And as the months rolled on ho tried with every thoughtful and considerate effort to express to tho little lady of tho manor his gratltudo for tho goodnesB of her family. It troubled him moro than a llttlo that tho early friendliness and Intimacy of Harry Hampton seemed to bo wearing off. The boy did not comb so often to Carnlfax, and when ho camo ho did not stay for hours, for days BomotlmoB, as was his way at first. Ho was uneasy with his friend, and his friend wondered and did not understand, but hesitated to push a way into tho lad's heart. "Ho will tell mo in tlmo," thought Francois, and, suro of his own Innocence, wait ed for tho tlmq. Meantlmo he was going homo. Go ing, much against tho advice of tho Norfolk doctor, who warned him that he was not yet well or strong, that tho out-of-door life In tho mild Vir ginia climate should be continued per haps for two years moro, beforo he went back to the agitation and effort of a Bonapartist agent in France. But ho could not wait; he must see his old home, his mother, his father, and all the unforgotten faces. Ho longed to watch the black lashes curl upward from tho blue of Allxe's eyes. Ho longed to hear her clear volco with Its boyish note of courage. It would put new llfo into him, that voice It was seven years now and more since he had left them nil at a day's notice to go to Pletro In Italy to a living death of five years, to many undream ed of happenings. The fever was on him and lie must go home. There was to bo a celebration for the new and very fashionable cavalry troop of which Francois wns the un official backbone and author. In the great grassy paddock at Bayly's Folly the proud mother of eighteen-year-old Caperton Bayly llrst lieutenant, and tho most finished horseman in the Vir ginia country had Invited tho gentry from miles about to feast, with her and to wntch her son and his friends show how the Chevalier Beaupro had made them into soldiers. They came In shoals, driving from far off over bad roads in big lurching chariots, or rid ing in gay companies, mostly of older men and girls and young boys, be cause all of the gilded youth were In tbo ranks that day. When tho drill was over thero was to bo rough riding and jumping. Hur dles wero swiftly .dragged out and placed in a manner of ring. "This one is very close to the bank," said Lucy Hampton, standing by Blue bird and watching as the negroes placed tho bars. "If a horse refused and turned sharp and was foolish, he might go over, And the bank is steop." "Lucy, you aro a grandm6therly per son," Clifford Stewart who was an other girl threw at her. "You would like them nil to rldo in wadded wool dressing gowns, and to havo a wall pndded with cotjton batting to guard them." And Lucy smiled and believed herself overcautious. Tho excited horses came dunclng up to tho barriers and lifted und were over, with or without rapping, but not one, for the first round, refusing. Then tho bars woro raised bIx Inches; six Inches in mid-air Is a largo space whon one must Jump it. Caperton Bayly went at It first; his mothor watched breathless as ho tlew for ward, sitting erect, intense, his young eyes gleaming. Over went his great horso Traveler, and over tho next and the next all of them; but tho whlto heels had struck the top bar twice tbo beautiful, spirited performance was not perfect. Harry Hampton camo next; all ot tho kindly multitude gazed eagerly, hoping that tho boy to whom life had given less than tho others might win UiIb honor he want ed. Tho first bars without rapping; tho second; and a suppressed sound of satisfaction, which might soon be a great roar of pleasure, hummed ovor the field. Black Hawk came rushing, snorting, pulling up to tho third Jump, tho jump where Lucy stood. And aa he camo a llttlo girl, high In a car riage, a chariot as ono said then, flour ished her scnrlot parasol In the air, and lost hold ot it, and It flow like a huge red bird Into the course, clos'o to the hurdle. And Black Hawk, strung to the highest point of his thoroughbred nerves, Baw, and a hor ror of the flaming living thing, as it seemod, caught lilm, and ho swerved at the bar and bolted bolted straight for tho stoop slopo. A gasp went up from tho throo hun dred, four hundred pooplo; tho boy wns dashing to death; no ono stirred; every musclo was rigid tho specta tors wore paralyzed Not all. Fran cols from his babyhood had known how to think quickly, and those boys wero his pride and his care, ho hud thought of that possible danger which Lucy had forsoon; when the jumping began, mounted on his mare Aquorollo, ho was posted near the head of the slope, not twenty yards from the hur Ue, to be at hand In any contingency. When Hnrry'B horse bolted, ono loue& put Aquarelle Into motion. Llko a line ot brown light she dashed at right angles to tho runaway n linn dram to lntorcept tho line of Blnci Hawk's flight. There was sllcnc: over tho Held ono Becond two seconds thd lines ahot to tho nnglo then It camo the Bhock they awaited. Black Hawk, rushing, saw tho other coming nnd swerved at tho last mo-1 nient too late. The animals collided,, not with full force, yet for n momon it, looked llko nothing but death for lldors and mounts, Harry Hampton was thrown bnckward to the level field; Black Hawk galloped off, frantle and unhurt, across It; Aquarelle, onu saw, lay on tho very edge bf the drop and wns scrambling to her feet with liveliness enough to assure her safo ty; of Francois there wns no sign. In half a mlnuto tho breathless still crowd was In an uproar, and a hun dred men woro jostling one nnothof to reach tho sceuo of tho accident. It was two minutes, perhaps, before Caporton Bayly, with a negro boy at his heels, with Jack Littleton and Harry Wlso and a dozen other lads racing back of him, had plunged over the drop of land whero Francois had disappeared. Two minutes are enough Bomctlmea for a large event. In that two minutes Lucy Hampton, without conscious volition, by nn instinct an slmplo and imperative as a bird's In stinct to shield her young, had slipped from hor horse Bluebird and flown ncroBS tbo level and down over the steep bank till sho found herself hold ing Francois' dark head in her arms and heard her own voids saying words sho had never said even tb herself. "I fovo you, I lovo you," she said, and If all the world heard she did not know or care. There was no world for her nt that mlnuto but the man lying with his head against her heart dead It might be, but dead or allvo, dearest. "I love you lovo you love you," sho repeated, as If the soul were rushing out of her In tho words. With that tho luminous great eyes opened, and Francois was looking at her, and she knew that he had heard. And then tho training of a lifetime, of centuries, flooded back Into her, and womanly reticence and maidenly shnme and the feelings and attitudo which are not primeval, as she had been primeval for that one mad mo ment. Sho drew back as she felt him trying to lift himself, and left him freo and was on hor feet, and then with a shock sho was aware of another pres ence; turning she looked up Into tho angry glow of her cousln'B eyes. He waB not looking at her, but at the man who, dazed, hurt, was trying painfully to pull himself up. Harry Hampton glared at him. "We will settle this later," he brought out through his teeth. "I hope I can kill you." And Lucy cried out: "Shamo!" sho cried. "He has just saved your life)" "Damn him!" said Harry Hampton. "I do not want my life at his hands. 1 hate lilm more for saving mo. Damn him!" And Francois, clutching at a bush, things reeling about him unsteadily, looked up, friendly, wistful, at the boy cursing him. With thnt there was an Influx of population; the whole world, appar ently, tumbled down the steep bank, Sjffjgr '' j! M She Found Herself Holding Francois' ' Dark Head In Her Arms. every one far too preoccupied with help for tho hero to remark Harry Hampton's grim humor. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Bobble Burns' Granddaughter. An action has been entered In Dum fries 8horlff court by MIbs Annie Beck ett Burns of Cheltenham, tho only sur viving granddaughter of the Scottish poet, claiming "to have herself, as the nearest of kin, declared executrix of certain hitherto unconfirmed personal estate of tho said Robert BurnB." This is a sequel to tho recent announce ment that tho Liverpool Athenaeum had sold for 5,000 fho two volumea of Burns' poems and bettor known as tho dlonrlddell manuscripts, nnd that thoy wero likely to go to Amorlca, an announcement which brought strong protests from Lord Roseborry, Dr. Wil liam Wallace and others. Westmin ster Gazette Old American Coins. Robert Morris, the financier of thn Confederation, early In 1783, arranged with Benjamin Dudley to striko off somo "pattern pieces" that could bo placed beforo congress. On April 2 Dudley doltvered to Morris soma pieces, which woro In reftlltji tho llrst coin struck having the nnmo "United Stntos coin." Tho particular sped mens are known to numismntlsts as tho "Nova Constellatlo Paterus." TJipy woro of silver and denominated tho' "mark" and quint." Tho llrst colus struck by the United State mint were Fomr half dimes, lu 1782. '
